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House of Games

  • 1987
  • R
  • 1h 42m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
25K
YOUR RATING
Lindsay Crouse and Joe Mantegna in House of Games (1987)
Trailer for this suspense thriller
Play trailer2:06
1 Video
91 Photos
CrimeDramaThriller

A psychiatrist comes to the aid of a compulsive gambler and is led by a smooth-talking grifter into the shadowy but compelling world of stings, scams, and con men.A psychiatrist comes to the aid of a compulsive gambler and is led by a smooth-talking grifter into the shadowy but compelling world of stings, scams, and con men.A psychiatrist comes to the aid of a compulsive gambler and is led by a smooth-talking grifter into the shadowy but compelling world of stings, scams, and con men.

  • Director
    • David Mamet
  • Writers
    • David Mamet
    • Jonathan Katz
  • Stars
    • Lindsay Crouse
    • Joe Mantegna
    • Mike Nussbaum
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    25K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • David Mamet
    • Writers
      • David Mamet
      • Jonathan Katz
    • Stars
      • Lindsay Crouse
      • Joe Mantegna
      • Mike Nussbaum
    • 156User reviews
    • 66Critic reviews
    • 78Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 6 wins & 5 nominations total

    Videos1

    House of Games
    Trailer 2:06
    House of Games

    Photos91

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    Top cast28

    Edit
    Lindsay Crouse
    Lindsay Crouse
    • Margaret Ford
    Joe Mantegna
    Joe Mantegna
    • Mike
    Mike Nussbaum
    Mike Nussbaum
    • Joey
    Lilia Skala
    Lilia Skala
    • Dr. Littauer
    J.T. Walsh
    J.T. Walsh
    • The Businessman
    Willo Hausman
    • Girl with Book
    Karen Kohlhaas
    • Prison Ward Patient
    Steven Goldstein
    Steven Goldstein
    • Billy Hahn
    • (as Steve Goldstein)
    Jack Wallace
    Jack Wallace
    • Bartender (House of Games)
    Ricky Jay
    Ricky Jay
    • George (Vegas Man)
    G. Roy Levin
    • Poker Player
    Bob Lumbra
    • Poker Player
    Andy Potok
    • Poker Player
    Olan Soule
    Olan Soule
    • Poker Player
    Ben Blakeman
    • Bartender (Charlie's Tavern)
    Scott Zigler
    • Western Union Clerk
    William H. Macy
    William H. Macy
    • Sgt. Moran
    • (as W.H. Macy)
    John Pritchett
    • Hotel Desk Clerk
    • Director
      • David Mamet
    • Writers
      • David Mamet
      • Jonathan Katz
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    8.4
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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Ricky Jay was a sleight-of-hand artist and an acknowledged authority on the art of the con. In an NPR interview, Jay related that when David Mamet needed a short-change scam to be explained in the movie, he asked Jay for details of an authentic short-change hustle. However, Jay did not want to betray the confidence of the hustlers he knew who still used various short-change cons for their "livelihood". The envelope switch seen in the final film is an original switch invented by Jay specially for the film. Later, it was reported that an amateur thief had been caught attempting to use the switch as he had learned it from the film.
    • Goofs
      Margaret Ford takes her smokes from a package of unfiltered "stubby" Camels, but the actual cigarettes she uses are longer (probably Pall Malls) so they'll "read" better on screen.
    • Quotes

      Joey: The bitch is a booster.

      Mike: The bitch is a born thief, man.

      Mr. Dean: So, you had her made from the jump?

      Mike: I'm tellin' ya. A ton of fuckin' bricks! Show me some REAL con-men.

      Joey: Yeah, we showed her some con-men.

      Mike: We showed her some DINOSAUR con-men. Some old style.

      Joey: Yes, sir.

      Mike: Years from now, they're gonna have to go to a museum to see a frame like this.

      Joey: That's right.

      Mr. Dean: Took her money and screwed her, too.

      Mike: A small price to pay.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Surrender/Someone to Watch Over Me/Dancers/House of Games/Maurice (1987)
    • Soundtracks
      Fugue
      From "Toccata in C Minor (BWV 911)"

      Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach

      Performed by Warren Bernhardt (piano)

      [Played during both the opening and end credits]

    User reviews156

    Featured review
    8/10

    A Journey to the Dark Side

    In Seattle, Margaret Ford (Lindsay Crouse) is a successful psychiatrist and writer of a best-seller. When her client Billy Hahn (Steven Goldstein) tells that he owes US$ 25,000 to the gambler Mike (Joe Mantegna), he threatens to commit suicide with a gun. Billy also tells that Mike will kill him anyway and she is not helping him. Margaret feels powerless but she promises to help him if he delivers his pistol to her. Margaret goes to the House of the Games, a place where gamblers play pool in the saloon and poker in the rear, and she meets the cynical con man Mike. He tells that Billy owes him only US$ 800 and he would forget the debt if she helps him in a poker game. Margaret observes a player but she finds in the end that it was a scheme of Mike and his friends to take money from her. On the next morning, Margaret visits a patient and she feels that she cannot help her. Her friend and adviser Dr. Maria Littauer (Lilia Skala) suggests that she should give a break in her career and write another book. Margaret seeks out Mike and asks to see how he operates since she wants to study the confidence games to write a book. He agrees and Margaret begins her journey to her dark side.

    "House of the Games" is the directorial debut of the writer David Mamet with an intelligent thriller. The story of a psychiatrist that feels powerless to help her patients and befriends the con man Mike and his friends to write a new book is a powerful characters study. Mike' scheme is predictable but the plot keeps the attention of the viewer until the last scene. In addition, the cinematography is top-notch. My vote is eight.

    Title (Brazil): "O Jogo de Emoções" ("The Game of Emotions")
    • claudio_carvalho
    • Oct 22, 2016
    • Permalink

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    FAQ18

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 14, 1987 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • MGM
    • Languages
      • English
      • Latin
    • Also known as
      • House of Cards
    • Filming locations
      • Seattle, Washington, USA
    • Production company
      • Filmhaus
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,585,639
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $116,677
      • Oct 18, 1987
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,585,639
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 42 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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